U.S. preparing to seize more ships transporting Venezuelan oil: Reuters

Core Viewpoint - The US government is preparing to seize more oil tankers off the coast of Venezuela, with a focus on enforcing sanctions against Venezuelan oil imports [2][4][6]. Group 1: Seizure of Oil Tankers - The US intends to seize oil from a tanker that has already been secured and will move it to a US port for investigation [2][3]. - The White House confirmed that the US government is ready to enforce the law and seize additional tankers that are in violation of US sanctions [4][5]. - The Treasury Department's OFAC list has been updated to include several oil tankers allegedly violating US sanctions, including those flagged from Panama and Hong Kong [5]. Group 2: Legal Process and Asset Management - The typical process for seized assets involves a legal determination of forfeiture, followed by potential auctioning of the assets by US Marshals [7][10]. - There is uncertainty regarding the fate of the seized oil and the condition of the tankers, which may not hold significant market value and could be sold for scrap or parts [9][10]. - The White House has not committed to a specific path for auctioning the seized oil, indicating that the process is still in its early stages [8][10].